Volunteer fire department seeks help at German Township Meeting
GERMAN TWP. — Representatives of the McClellandtown Volunteer Fire Department say unless something is done to improve the department’s financial situation, the department might have to close.
Fire department representative Art Vaccaro submitted a letter to the German Township supervisors at their meeting Tuesday on behalf of fire Chief Fred Grimm about the possibility of enacting a fee on all residents that would go toward the financial support of the department.
The money the township collects through the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax is used to partially pay for the vehicle insurance for the five fire departments in the township.
“There could be major safety problems if we had to close,” said Vaccaro.
According to Vaccaro, the department is in dire straits and is not receiving the financial support through fundraisers like it had in the past. He added the department is willing to charge rent on some of its property and building to businesses.
Vaccaro said the department is in desperate need of people to volunteer to assist with fundraising efforts. He said the department has enough volunteer firefighters, but needs a group of people to organize and execute the fundraisers — currently the department’s only source of income.
Anyone interested in helping with the fundraising can call Vaccaro at 724-737-5987.
Vaccaro also asked the supervisors about the status of having volunteer fire departments in the township operate and supply power to traffic lights in the township in the event of a power outage.
At September’s meeting, Grimm approached the supervisors about issues that could arise when there are power outages in the township.
In the past, Grimm said the fire departments would use their fire trucks as generators to operate the three traffic lights on Route 21 during power outages. However, he was told by a fire department volunteer that only the municipality and its appointed contractors could perform the task.
After looking into the situation, Supervisor Daniel Shimshock said no definitive answer has been reached. The township’s insurance provider told Shimshock that both the township and the fire department would be held responsible that if an accident occurred while the lights were being operated by the fire department.
Shimshock said he contacted the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors to receive their official opinion. However, Shimshock said he has not heard back from them, but he will contact them again.
In other matters:
n The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program is still in operation at the German-Masontown Public Library. Those interested in participating can visit the library for details.
n The library also kick will off the knit and crochet program at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 5. For more information about the program and a list of materials, visit the library’s website at www.germaslibrary.org.
n The supervisors announced the next regular meeting will be held 6 p.m. Dec. 13.